Growing Pains

[goldcreek]

My poor little Bonnie dog has had a hard week. I think I first really noticed it last Tuesday. She seemed frustrated and impatient with training. She has been like that off and on all week. Bored and restless, yet unwilling to cooperate for training sessions. Wants to play tug but it hurts her mouth. Tiring easily, lower energy. Her ears flopped down. Some of it could be the heat but I think it also has something to do with her being prepubescent. Lol. Poor kid.

She has lost lots of teeth this week (I saved two! yay), just has three canines left to go and one of those is loose. She's still eating her food but slower and with slightly less enthusiasm. Doesn't want her chew bones. I've been giving her ice cubes to try to soothe her mouth, she likes those.

Yesterday she let me sleep in for hours (!!), then when I let her out she was not her usual exuberant self, just went outside and lay down. When she got up there was a puddle of pee on the grass. Too tired to stand to pee?? She seemed exhausted all day and just laid around. So unusual. She had me worried. But this morning she seems back to normal energy, she even had an ear up straight all morning, even when running it didn't bounce. Cool! I'm hoping she'll be prick eared.

I like my dogs lean but she was getting a bit too skinny so I increased her food. Now she's sleeking up nicely but her stools are bigger, fluffier. Her coat is ok but not as nice as it could be. Thinking about changing foods. Ugh, what a head ache. With all the by-outs who knows which brands to trust anymore? Maybe we'll go raw.

Here she is today.
   

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[LadyDaniela]

When in doubt call your vet.

[goldcreek]

I'm not in doubt. I wasn't even asking a question, just talking. She seems like a normal pup, albeit a dramatic one, to me. If my mouth looked like hers I'd be grouchy and uncomfortable too.

[LadyDaniela]

Just sayin' (mostly for the lurkers...wouldn't want some yahoo to mistake our lovely boards for a vet replacement)

[Country Girl]

Glad to hear she's feeling better!! Give her hugs and kisses for me please!!

[CollieDad]

(07-27-2010 10:45 AM)goldcreek Wrote:  I like my dogs lean but she was getting a bit too skinny so I increased her food. Now she's sleeking up nicely but her stools are bigger, fluffier. Her coat is ok but not as nice as it could be. Thinking about changing foods. Ugh, what a head ache. With all the by-outs who knows which brands to trust anymore? Maybe we'll go raw.

I fed Taste of the Wild until just about a month ago, amazing dog food! I switched to raw and although it is a bit more time consuming, it appears to be worth it! Smaller, firmer and fewer stools, even shinier coats, and Storm's eye is continuing to improve.
I feed a prepared frozen raw called Nature's Menu one meal every other day, as it has a great vitamin and chelated mineral package, just to make sure the dogs stay balanced.

[goldcreek]

Quote:I fed Taste of the Wild until just about a month ago, amazing dog food! I switched to raw and although it is a bit more time consuming, it appears to be worth it!

My cats are on TOTW and they look fabulous.
I agree raw is more trouble but it is so wonderful for their teeth and general health and I love having control over the quality of ingredients going into it.

Bonnie has had a few raw meals now, she gives it two paws up! She was happy to use her brand new teeth to crunch up the bones. I can't believe how fast they are coming in!

-Country Girl - Bon LOVED her kisses and hugs. Thanks. She seems normal again today too, she is feeling better. Yay! She is shoving a ball at me right now.

[CollieDad]

(07-29-2010 10:35 AM)goldcreek Wrote:  Bonnie has had a few raw meals now, she gives it two paws up! She was happy to use her brand new teeth to crunch up the bones. I can't believe how fast they are coming in!

Bones, I have to say that I was a bit nervous about chicken bones for the pup, but, as you said, happy to use those new teeth and absolutely no problems so far!

[goldcreek]

No, raw bones are pretty safe. I suppose they could choke on a big chunk but same is true for chew toys or even kibble. If that concerns you then feed smaller bones (wings) rather than the large leg bones until pups mouth and digestive tract is larger.
Cooked chicken bones are of course bad news any day and should never be given as they tend to splinter and do not digest as raw bones do.

[RobD-BCactive]

My young dog is teething lots at moment, on one trip in park his gums actually were bleeding so much from errupting teeth, that some people thought he'd cut his mouth on one side. The puppy coat is getting replaced by coarser guard hairs of adult coat from spine outwards, it's still as glossy as ever however.

Weight gain slowed considerably for couple of weeks then made up for it last
Am freezing wet towell strips in a roll, which are much appreciated, providing a fascinating cool, soft wetness.

He's fed dry, but enjoys raw chicken wing treats (since at breeders), so far without issue. Like CollieDad says, I still feel a touch nervous about chicken bones, as when I was young we avoided them like the plague. But I have known a dog that regularly ate cooked chicken wings, which shocked me at time, but it survived well enough the dangers of splintering rather than suffered some ghastly painful demise or a huge vets bill. Also I try to ensure the raw wings are only given, when he can go to quiet spot and much them undisturbed to reduce risk of hurried "gobbling".